Savage Shooters - Improving the Duramaxx--[SIZE=3][FONT=verdana]Improving the Duramaxx

Now that the action is ready, you'll need to block off the areas in the stock where you don't want the bedding to go. For this, modeling clay can be used but I prefer to use play dough......I've found modeling clay to be a pain to completely remove from synthetic stocks. (see Figures 9 & 10) If you use play dough, be sure to bed the rifle soon after as the play dough will shrink as it dries out. For release agent, I use the stuff that comes with Bedrock. I apply one coat, let it dry and then apply another generous coat. Ive also used Pam cooking spray with success in the past. Just make sure you coat the action well!! (see Figure 16)

Once you get everything prepped, its time to bed! Mixing the bedding is straight forward but at the same time the amount of bedding can be critical. You want to have enough but you don't want too much.....here is where a trail run with play dough in place of the bedding can be a real life saver. It takes a little time, but it will give you a great idea of how much bedding material to put in the relieved areas. If you choose to do a trial run, rough up any surfaces that were covered in play dough to ensure the bedding compound will stick.

Once you get the bedding compound in the stock, its time to very gently set the barreled action in place. There are two methods here: One is to use the regular action screws and turn them into place after setting the action. The other (my preferred method) is to use the bolts mentioned earlier. I really feel this method allows less disturbance to the bedding and makes for a cleaner finished product. By using the long bolts, it allows the action to be set in the bedding with minimal movement and ensures the action is in the right place, the first time. By using tape on the bolts, it ensures the bolts are centered and not making contact on the aluminum pillars. I also use tape on the barrel at the end of the stock to keep the barrel centered (the whole off center action thing)(see Figure 14). After setting the action in the stock and ensuring its in the right place, I use electrical tape to secure the action in place......the supplied tubing works too but I prefer the tape.(see Figure 11) If you are bedding a rifle with a heavy barrel, make sure the action is securely held on the rear pillar. The extra weight of the barrel can cause the action to tip forward, causing problems with the contact on the rear pillar. After everything is set where you want it, make sure to clean up any bedding that may have seeped out while setting the action.

Now its time to wait! Follow the instructions on cure time and DO NOT mess with the action!!!!! I use a Tipton gun vise to hold the stock and I also use a level to ensure the stock is not tilted in any way (very important). After the bedding has had sufficient time to cure, removal is normally straight forward.......this will all depend on your prep work! I will normally place a dowel rod in the action and lift the action straight up by using the dowel and barrel as handles. You may need to tap on the sides of the stock to get it freed up but I have yet to get one stuck! After removing the action, there may be areas within the stock where the bedding seeped out. I just use a Dremel or small hobby knife to clean these areas up......it makes the job look neater! (see Figure 17).

As seen in Figure 18, air pockets can cause small voids in the bedding material. Small voids aren't a real problem, but larger ones should be filled with more material. Once you have everything touched up, clean the stock and action and prepare to reassemble. Check everywhere on the action and stock to make certain you didn't forget something! Mount your bases, rings and scope and head off to the range. Before firing that first shot, make sure everything is in good working order and functioning properly. Lastly, please check the bore for any obstructions.....just to be safe, it wouldn't hurt to quickly clean the bore!

The Finished Product
Once completed, I chose to mount Burris 2pc. tactical bases with Burris medium Sig. Zee rings. For glass, I normally use Burris Optics but for this project I chose to use the Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40 SF with Nikoplex reticle. The barrel on this rifle is an Adams and Bennett heavy barrel, 24" 1:14 twist chambered for the 223 Ackley Improved (Thanks Blue Avenger!). The trigger is the Timney unit which I installed and set at 2 1/4 pounds. The Timney trigger is absolutely clean, crisp and creep free! After installing and using both Rifle Basix triggers (SAV 1&2) and the Timney, the Timney is in my opinion the best of the three. It won't adjust as low as the SAV 2 but for a hunting rig, its perfect.

I apologize for not having any before groups to show you......once I got the new rifle home, I couldn't wait to take it apart! To get a quick start on fire-forming brass, I picked up a 40-round box of Winchester 45g JHP 223 rem. ammo. The chronograph said these rounds average about 3,300 fps while fire-forming cases. The factory ammo shot quite well in less than perfect conditions and produced brass with very nice, sharp shoulders. My first reload with this rifle was with the 50g Nosler Ballistic tip, H4895, and Fed GM205M primers all set inside Winchester brass. After some tweaking, this load proved to be very accurate and fairly fast! (insert 50gBT.jpg) This load routinely puts five rounds in less than inch at 100 yards. At an average speed of 3633 fps, this load should prove deadly on our midwest coyotes.

Fire-forming round (left) and hunting round (right)

In conclusion, the Duramaxx is a wonderful upgrade to the factory Savage stock. Even if it has some drawbacks, with a little time and effort it can be a very stable platform for any Savage rifle. If I can do this, I promise that anyone who can change their own oil can do it too! Bedding a rifle is fairly simple.....read the instructions carefully and with some time, effort and patience, you too can make the Duramaxx better! Please note that I have omitted several very important steps in the bedding process......read your instructions carefully and take a look at Lefty223's article.

Submitted by Steven Trapp

DISCLAIMER:
The information contained in this article and the attached video are for educational purposes only. Should you choose to use this information to alter or modify your firearm you do so of your own accord. In doing so you accept full responsibility for any adverse affects, damages, injuries and/or death that may occur as a result.

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